Report of the Art Museum 



At the Art Museum for the past year a concerted effort has been made 

 to broaden the educational service, that there may develop a more 

 intelligent appreciation on the part of the public of the many advantages 

 that can be gained through the museum collections. 



Classes from the public and private schools have visited the museum 

 in connection with their study of history, as well as in design and in- 

 dustrial art. 



The museum has been opened outside of our regular hours for socie- 

 ties, schools, or clubs, and also at the request of the Springfield Chamber 

 of Commerce for visiting conventions. At the recent Conference of 

 the Rotary Clubs held in Springfield, about three hundred of the visitors 

 attended the special opening of the museum. 



The story hours for children instituted last year which proved of so 

 much value have been continued at the museum lecture hall, and one 

 was repeated at the Indian Orchard branch library. Art talks have 

 also been given upon request to some of the church societies. 



Many thanks are due to the School Board for their generous co-op- 

 eration in furnishing a drawing teacher for the children who come to 

 the museum Saturday afternoons to draw. This service commenced 

 January 24th, and continued for twelve weeks under the supervision 

 of Mr. C. Edward Newell, supervisor of drawing in the public schools, 

 with very gratifying results. This coming year we are looking forward 

 to the lessons commencing in October and continuing through the school 

 year. 



I wish also to express appreciation to Mr. John J. Mack of the Vo- 

 cational School, for printing, the passes which the museum is issuing 

 to the children. These cards will admit to the museum any child 

 over six years of age. Thus no child is denied the privilege of visiting 

 the museum. This idea has worked out very nicely, as it gives the 

 children a certain feeling of responsibility. They are encouraged to 

 ask questions and a special endeavor is made to have them understand 

 the exhibits. 



I would like to call attention to the fact that the museum contains a 

 fine library of reference books on art and anyone is at liberty to consult 

 these volumes during the opening hours. Many important books on 

 design are included in the collection. 



All available time is given to the placing of explanatory cards with 

 the exhibits, and we were recently much gratified to hear the art super- 

 visor of Auburn, N. Y., say that she remembered the Springfield Art 

 Museum as the cleanest museum she had ever visited and the first one 

 in which the Oriental rugs had been classified and labeled. 



The attendance has increased this year and I find that considered 



